DIY Painting Tips You Should Experiment with in Your House

Painting the inside of your house might appear overwhelming initially, but thanks to online resources, social media, and television programs on home improvement, it has become more accessible. Both professionals and amateurs in the field have shared various hacks, making the process smoother, tidier, and even more enjoyable.

Engaging in your own interior painting project offers several advantages. Taking on the DIY approach provides you with greater control over the final result. You can complete the task according to your schedule and preferences. Moreover, opting to paint by yourself helps in saving money, as hiring professionals can be quite expensive. Presently, there's no better time to give painting a try, and you can streamline the entire procedure by making use of these smart hacks.

Soak your paintbrush in fabric softener

One challenge when painting is effectively cleaning your brushes. Brushes left with paint residue tend to harden, making them less functional. This can lead to frustration and the need to constantly replace brushes. However, there's a smart solution to this issue.

Instructables offers an efficient method to thoroughly clean paintbrushes using fabric softener. Start by removing excess paint from the brush using a rag or paper towel. The more paint removed initially, the easier the cleaning process. Then, in a bucket or large bowl, mix an eighth cup of fabric softener with four cups of warm water. Ensure a thorough blend of the two solutions. Submerge the paintbrush in this mixture, and you'll notice the paint transferring into the fluid, eventually settling at the bottom. Once the paint is entirely removed, rinse the brush under cold water to eliminate any remaining fabric softener, then dry it. Voila! Your brush will be spotless!

Try this method to minimize the smell of paint.

Reducing the smell while painting the interior of your house can be a challenge. However, Valspar Paint provides some effective methods to help alleviate the odor during the process.

Their primary recommendation involves using onions to counteract the paint odor, despite it seeming counterintuitive. Onions contain a chemical that can neutralize the paint scent. Simply cut an onion in half and position it in the painted room to diminish the distinctive smell of the paint.

Another suggestion they offer is utilizing a household staple: Baking soda. Known for its natural odor-absorbing properties, baking soda can help eliminate paint fumes. Place generous amounts of baking soda in small bowls and scatter them across the painted area. Allow the bowls to remain overnight to absorb the odor. Dispose of the used baking soda the next day and replenish as necessary until the paint smell diminishes.

Utilize a sponge to assist in correcting painting errors

Painting errors can lead to frustration, and it's rare to complete a project without encountering a few mishaps. Fortunately, there are simple solutions to rectify them. In a video produced by Benjamin Moore, a technique is explained to address unevenly dried paint droplets. The method involves gently using a flat razor to scrape off the uneven dried paint, followed by smoothing it with sandpaper. Subsequently, the area should be wiped clean with a damp sponge, allowed to dry, and then touched up using a brush with a small amount of paint. For precise touch-ups, a cotton swab can be used to add paint precisely to the spot that was shaved and sanded. Additional coats may be necessary to blend the area with the surrounding paint, ensuring a seamless finish where the mistake once was.

A surprising application of petroleum jelly during a painting project

Surprisingly, petroleum jelly can be a useful aid in your painting project. Love Grows Wild has a technique for distressing paint using this common household item, and it's incredibly straightforward! You'll only need three basic materials: a rag, petroleum jelly, and a paintbrush. Begin by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the edges of your project or any areas where you desire a distressed paint effect. It's essential to apply the petroleum jelly sparingly as paint won't adhere to these spots. You can use a cotton swab or even your fingers for this application. It doesn't need to be precise for the distressed appearance you want!

Afterward, proceed to paint the area as usual. Allow it to partially dry until it's still slightly tacky to the touch. Then, dampen the rag and gently rub it over the petroleum jelly-coated spots. This will enable you to effortlessly remove the paint, creating the weathered appearance you're aiming for. It's that simple!

Try this smart masking tape hack.

Masking tape is an essential tool for DIY painting projects. Surprisingly, using this simple tool can ensure precise and clean lines when painting. Diply suggests an easy method to achieve straight edges consistently. Start by applying masking tape over the areas you want to protect from the paint, especially when aiming to create striped or chevron patterns.

Afterward, paint along the edge of the tape with the existing wall color. This action serves to form a seal, ensuring that any paint seeping underneath matches the wall's original paint. Smart, isn't it?

Once dried, apply the new paint color within the patterned area. After allowing it to dry completely and removing the tape, you'll reveal flawless, sharp, and neat lines.

Prevent paintbrushes from drying out during pauses in your painting process

When finishing your painting session for the day or taking a break from the task, preventing brushes and trays from drying out is crucial. Real Simple provides a helpful tip to avoid this situation. All you need is a garbage bag. According to Rick Watson, director of product information and technical services at Sherwin-Williams, "For a roller tray, I typically use a standard garbage bag to store everything—tray, roller handle with a roller, and brushes. Make sure to seal it tightly to keep air out."

If you plan to resume painting the following day, the source suggests refrigerating the wrapped tray overnight to keep it fresh and primed for use. Avoid the inconvenience of stiff, dried-out brushes that may end up in the trash by employing this helpful trick.

Maintain the cleanliness of your paint roller using an affordable item found at the dollar store

The dollar store offers packing tape, a useful tool to clean paint rollers effortlessly. Cheaper paint rollers often come with excessive fuzz that might impede achieving a professional finish. However, packing tape acts like a lint roller, swiftly eliminating the excess fuzz from the rollers before painting.

Fun Cheap or Free provides insights into various dollar store items that can aid in saving money. The list includes useful items for painting tasks such as buckets, sponges, gloves, and cleaning supplies. Additionally, the site recommends purchasing disposable baking pans from the dollar store, which can serve as makeshift paint trays for pouring paint.

Utilize a Swiffer to prepare your walls before painting

If you have a Swiffer at home typically used for floor cleaning, it can serve a dual purpose during a paint project by aiding in prepping your walls. To begin, ensure your walls are clean and free from dust. Sherwin Williams emphasizes this step to eliminate any grime, cobwebs, stains, or accumulated dust that may linger on your walls, as these could affect the adhesion of the paint. While a wide floor nozzle vacuum or a brush can handle larger dust particles along the wall's base, a Swiffer can effectively clean the walls themselves. Using Swiffer dry cloths or even washcloths or dishtowels attached to the Swiffer, lightly dampen the cloth and proceed to wipe the walls in an up-and-down motion to thoroughly clean them.

Store paint roller brushes effortlessly.

Storing roller brushes can be a bit challenging, especially to prevent them from drying out. Instead of using plastic wrap, Natural Handyman recommends wrapping the brush part of the roller with aluminum foil. Plastic wrap, often suggested for this purpose, tends to be difficult to seal properly, allowing air to dry out the roller.

Thicker, heavy-duty aluminum foil is less prone to tearing and effectively prevents paint from drying. It's advised to ensure the roller holds a sufficient amount of paint before wrapping it with foil for optimal preservation. Moreover, double wrapping the rollers can offer extra protection while they're not in use. As an additional tip, the website suggests placing the rollers in the fridge or freezer to maintain their freshness, although rollers with latex paint should not be stored in the freezer.

Transforming acrylic paint into convenient spray paint is a simple process.

Looking to utilize spray paint without purchasing more? If you have acrylic paint at your disposal, there's a solution. Little Birdie Secrets suggests an easy method to convert your acrylic paint into personalized spray paint. Using a spray paint medium kit available at most craft stores, combine equal amounts of the spray paint medium and acrylic paint in a mixing bottle provided in the kit. Shake the mixture well to blend the paint, then attach the sprayer included in the kit to the bottle. With this DIY spray paint, you're ready to tackle various projects effortlessly. It's a fantastic way to repurpose unused paint and effortlessly renew household or outdoor items.

Avoiding cracks in your paint application

Preventing unsightly cracks in your painted surfaces is crucial to maintaining a flawless finish. You can utilize an item found in your pantry, such as vinegar, to help prevent this issue. According to Ask Anna's suggestion, applying a coat of white vinegar prior to painting a cement floor or wall can effectively prolong the paint's durability and prevent cracks. Simply apply the vinegar to the surface, allowing it to completely dry before proceeding with the paint application. By following this method, your floors or walls will retain their paint and remain crack-free for an extended period.

In addition to this method, Benjamin Moore provides valuable tips to prevent paint cracking. They advise ensuring thorough priming of walls by cleaning and sanding them properly before painting. Moreover, it's crucial to avoid painting over areas with pre-existing cracks.

Extract additional paint from each can by scraping

Purchasing paint cans for a project can quickly accumulate costs, making it essential to maximize the contents of each container. Mad in Crafts offers a paint-saving technique that minimizes waste and preserves extra funds. The website highlights the residual paint concealed within a roller cover, which can be recovered through a straightforward scraping process. After concluding the day's painting, employ a putty knife to scrape the roller before washing it. Position the roller over the paint can's edge, methodically using the putty knife to extract remnants along the sides. Surprisingly, this method can salvage a few ounces of paint. Every small preservation contributes, doesn't it? The best part is that this action only takes a few minutes, yielding gratifying results in the long run!

Ensure that your paintbrushes stay moist and don't dry out after use.

After finishing a painting task, it's crucial to avoid letting your paintbrushes dry out, making them unusable in the future. Preserving your tools for the next painting session is essential. To prevent them from drying, you can apply a similar technique using aluminum foil, as previously mentioned. However, it's vital to ensure that the brush has enough paint before wrapping it in foil; otherwise, the brushes might become stiff and dry.

Alternatively, Ugly Duckling House suggests using a sandwich bag to maintain your brushes in excellent condition. Simply place a paint-coated brush inside the bag, remove any excess air, and seal it tightly. Then, wrap the excess bag plastic around the brush's base, securing the end with tape to prevent unwrapping. These methods can effectively preserve your brushes for the next painting project.